Hi, I'm Jaycee
Writing Coach, Writer, Former Film Exec, and Mom
to a toddler and dog
I help fiction writers, memoirists, and screenwriters navigate the brave, messy writing process to create work they’re proud of.
After a decade in film development (and a detour in marketing), I started Brave Messy Words to give writers the clarity, confidence, and support I needed myself.
If my journals,
computer, and Notes
app could
talk...
Half-filled notebooks in your drawers?
Word docs of false starts on your computer?
Notes of untouched ideas on your phone?
Seriously same
I'd love to tell you I found the magic formula to banish self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and writer's block. But the truth is: the creative process will always be a little messy. That's just part of it.
With practice, resilience, and aligned routines, it gets easier.
I started Brave Messy Words to help you make it easier.
Because our stories deserve to be told, and we deserve to enjoy telling them.
— even now.
After a decade collaborating with award-winning screenwriters, I set out to become a "real writer" myself. . . but instead,
I had my first panic attack.
my actual desk ... minus the usual coffee mugs, scripts, and notes
I was sitting in an independent bookstore cafe in NYC, staring at my laptop. I had just deleted my entire screenplay for a self-imposed page one rewrite. Around me, everyone’s fingers were flying across their keyboards. All I could do was stare at a blank page.
I had built my career working for film production companies, finding and evaluating projects, optioning books, and helping writers develop and refine their scripts for the big and small screens. Yet here I was, failing at the very thing I was supposed to be an expert at.
Who was I to think I could do this? And why would anyone care what I had to say?
I'd put so much pressure on myself that my creativity choked under the weight of it. I couldn't breathe.
my MTV intern days ... playing with the slate between transcribing episodes
The years since have challenged every part of my deeply-ingrained perfectionism: a brief misaligned stint in marketing, a late-term pregnancy loss, an unexpected family death, and now, motherhood. Through it all, I’ve learned to accept — and even embrace — vulnerability and messiness. Because writing, like life, is about the journey, not the destination.
Reflecting on my time in film development, I realized that what I love most and do best is help writers find clarity, confidence, and pride in their work. I wanted to create a safe space where they could be brave enough to be messy, and messy enough to find their authentic voice.
That’s how Brave Messy Words began.
my WFH vibe ... script notes powered by Mochi snuggles
You don’t have to go through the years of frustration, anxiety, and perfectionism that I did.
Writing doesn't have to be hard. And you don't have to suffer for your art.
We’ll clear the fog around your ideas so you can build confidence and momentum without self-doubt or revision loops. No generic advice, no rigid formulas. Just tailored support to help you move forward with intention and feel proud of your work.
Whether you’re starting your first draft, revising a messy middle, or finally getting ready to share your work, we'll create a framework that feels grounded, prolific, and even (gasp) joyful.
Your words matter. Let's get them on the page.
Jaycee's sincere validation will give your work wings.
Laura*
* pseudonym for anonymity
Real Writers. Real Results.
From book deals to breakthroughs, here's what happens when you have the right support.
Laura* wrote a book proposal in three weeks, landed a book deal, and signed with a lit agent.
* pseudonym for anonymity
Sadie published a personal essay in HuffPost, delivered a TEDx Talk, and finished the first draft of her memoir.
Monica discovered her outlining style, broke free from creative constraints, and restarted her novel with renewed energy.
Ready for real progress and results?
Meet your writing coach
Jaycee Shindler is a writer, writing coach, and former film executive who helps storytellers uncover their narratives and refine their voices. With an intuitive sense for story, her coaching blends industry insight with practical tools and a deep care for the human experience.
For over a decade, Jaycee worked as a development executive for independent film producers. She's collaborated with writers at every stage — from students to New York Times bestselling authors to Academy Award-nominated screenwriters — shaping concepts, characters, and plot arcs for the screen. In every setting, Jaycee creates a supportive space to untangle ideas and get to the heart of what matters most.
Based in NYC, Jaycee lives with her husband, toddler, and diva-of-a-dog. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was awarded Best Screenplay and taught as a screenwriting TA. When she's not coaching, Jaycee's working on her novel, listening to true crime podcasts, or half-watching early-2000s sitcoms (especially Parks and Rec, The Office, and 30 Rock). She's a fan of all narrative genres, but mysteries, romcoms, and historical fiction are her go-tos.
